In March, 2009, President Obama nominated openly gay Judge Marisa Demeo to the DC Superior Court. Since that time, some Republicans, led by Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina, have been trying to block her confirmation.

What problem did DeMint have with Judge Demeo? He was dissatisfied by her sexuality.

In February he told National Law Review that “A number of Republicans had concerns and asked me, as chairman of Steering, to ask for limited debate and a recorded vote because of a history of very leftist activism. There are just a number of things that don’t look like a fair-and-balanced approach that you’d like in a judge.”

The Senate finally confirmed her late Tuesday with a 66-32 vote.

Read the full story at San Diego Gay and Lesbian News…

Senate confirms lesbian judge originally appeared on Gay Vantage on April 22, 2010.

Colorado Senator Mark Udall, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is calling for the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) in 2010.

In a statement on his blog, Senator Udall says:

I am a longtime advocate for repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which prohibits gay men and women from serving openly in the military, and today I had the chance to speak with three former service members discharged under that law.  Veterans Mike Almy, Stacy Vasquez and David Hall met with me to speak about their service and how this misguided policy ended it.  They each served with distinction, and it is shameful that they were discharged for no reason other than their sexual orientation.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I believe “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is harmful to our national security and readiness—especially since we are embroiled in two wars.  And I believe the stories of these former service members reinforce the need to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

The Pentagon is studying how to implement an end to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and while I agree that is a necessary step, I also believe strongly that we must repeal it this year.  I will continue to work with other senators to ensure that the repeal is included in the Defense Authorization bill, which will be marked up in the Senate Armed Services Committee next month.  But we still face an uphill battle, and we will need a bipartisan push to clinch this urgent effort.  The stories these dismissed service members told me today are extremely powerful and compelling, and they’ll help as I urge my colleagues to support repeal.  The countless men and women who currently are unable to serve our country honestly deserve a change.  And I believe it’s imperative for our national security..

(photo: http://markudall.senate.gov)

Senator Udall calls for DADT repeal in 2010 originally appeared on Gay Vantage on April 21, 2010.

I never thought I was a Broadway fan until I saw Legally Blonde the Musical and fell in love with the star, Laura Bell Bundy (pictured).

I haven’t been keeping up with her career lately but was happy to see her performing her new country song on ABC!  She is full of spunk and is a great songwriter and singer…

If there is one person I’d love to share a drink with, it’s Laura! She is such the perfect fruit fly and loves her gays! Get at me, girl!  Oh, and Laura, if you read this (I hope you have yourself setup for Google Alerts!), hook me up with a DVD of LB The Musical, please! I know its out there…

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/room317/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Elle Woods Goes Country originally appeared on Gay Vantage on April 21, 2010.

On the path that more than 100 students take each day to get to high school and a Boys & Girl’s Club in Casper, Wyoming, there is a sign that says “To be gay = death.”  Chris Trumbull is the man that put the sign on his property and says that they are not his words, rather they are those of the Lord.

It is his own take from Leviticus 20:13 which states “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own hands.”

The response from city officials has been that they cannot and should not remove the sign.

Read the full story…

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/geordiemac_pics/ / CC BY-ND 2.0)

Anti-gay sign in Wyoming sign considered free speech by officials originally appeared on Gay Vantage on April 21, 2010.

Next Monday (April 26th) at 9/8 CT on Logo, the three finalists on RuPaul’s Drag Race will be strutting their stuff in hopes of winning the title of “America’s Next Drag Superstar.”

They will also be helping Ru shoot the next video for his next single, “Jealous of My Boogie,” which has played extensively on the show!

So, who’s going to win? Will it be Raven, Tyra or Jujubee? Over here at Gay Vantage we’re rooting for Jujubee!  Tune in next week to find out!

In the meantime, here’s a teaser clip for you!

(Photo: Rolling Blackouts)

Who will win Drag Race? originally appeared on Gay Vantage on April 20, 2010.

The Harvey Milk LGBT club and Pride at Work organizations are holding a rally at noon today on Pier 33 in San Francisco in support of Vincent Atos, a union organizer and former deckhand on Hornblower’s Alcatrez cruises. He claims that he was let go for being “too gay.”

David Waggoner, a lawyer and co-president of the Milk Club said that it is alleged that Mr. Altos made inappropriate sexual comments of a gay nature in a work environment where such comments by his straight co-workers were common. He goes on to say that one manager even watched porn. The theory is that he was actually let go for being a gay union organizer.

More at SFWeekly

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spyndle/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Rally today for union organizer fired for being “too gay” originally appeared on Gay Vantage on April 20, 2010.

Iowa Independent is reporting that Iowa Family Policy Center (IFPC) received more than $3 million from the federal government from 2004 to 2009.

The breakdown:

• 2004-2005 IFPC received $850,000 from Administration for Children and Families’ Compassion Fund
• 2006-2009 IFPC received $2.2 million through the U.S. Healthy Marriage Demonstration Fund ($550k annually through 2011)

In fact, for 2007, $558,337 of their $1.1 million in annual revenue came from the federal government in the form of grants.

While the funds are supposed to go to a marriage counseling program that the organization runs, both it and its PAC are vocal opponents to gay marriage in Iowa.

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorenjavier/ / CC BY-ND 2.0)

Federal government awards $3 million to anti-gay group originally appeared on Gay Vantage on April 20, 2010.

After popular 2007 American Idol runner-up David Archuleta was spotted at a gay NYC hot spot the other night, he quickly turned to his Twitter to let everyone know that he is not gay. He really wants us to know that he’s not gay. Also that he is not into the party scene, despite being at a club party. Archuleta wants us to know that he was only in the dark gay club to support his friend Charice.

His tweets on the matter (oldest to newest):

Hey guys just wanted to clear something up real quick lol. Last night in New York I got invited to go and see my friend Charice perform.. [link]

Mental note to self: always ask where before you go! Wasn’t my kind of place lol, and I had no clue! I guess you live and learn. The.. [link]

upside was that Clarice was awesome, and she has an incredible voice. Hope that clears things up! Been seeing some of the tweets.. sheesh! [link]

Can get crazy quick. NO worries all, I wouldn’t get into things like that intentionally haha. Hope you guys have a good Sunday! [link]

@kahlidalbow Back home . Spending time with the family! I just didn’t want you guys to be worried so had to let you guys know the facts! [link]

@DebVaFOD Thanks a bunch! Charice is great and she didn’t mean to cause any harm haha. She apologized a lot after. She’s way nice lol. [link]

@hamghost I have friends who are gay, and they’re great people. Whether they’re gay or not doesn’t change how I think of them. [link]

@hamghost I have nothing against anyone, I’m sorry if that’s how it came across. I’m just not into the partying scene lol. [link]

@officialcharice Aw haha thanks Charice! Sorry for causing any problems, I know you didn’t mean to cause any confusion [link]

We could not reach Ricky Martin for comment.

In other news, at only 19, he is already releasing his memoir. I wonder if he discusses sexuality in the book?

(Photo chop by http://www.flickr.com/photos/28977992@N08/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

David Archuleta wants us to know that he’s NOT gay! originally appeared on Gay Vantage on April 20, 2010.

President Obama was speaking in Los Angeles at a fundraiser for California Senator Barbara Boxer when he was interrupted by Don’t Ask Don’t Tell opponents demanding to know what he plans to do about the policy that prevents gays and lesbians from openly serving in the U.S. military.

After reminding the crowd that neither he or Senator Boxer support the ban, he told the hecklers that he plans on overturning DADT and that the protesters should be yelling at the people who do not want to.

President Obama has already turned to Congress to overturn the ban and the military is currently examining how to best do just that.

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmtimages/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Obama Heckled by DADT Opponents originally appeared on Gay Vantage on April 20, 2010.

Gay Vantage is live blogging the season 2 premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race on Logo at 9 PM EST on Monday, February 1, 2010.

Do you plan on tweeting about the show?  Please use the hashtag #RPDR and your tweet may be included here.

(Photo: Logo)

RuPaul’s Drag Race Premiere Live Blog originally appeared on Gay Vantage on February 1, 2010.